I did it! Now What?

In October of 2009, I finally did it, I ran a full 26.2 mile marathon. Well I ran 19 miles of it, then I walked mile 19, then I ran a song, walked a song, all the way to the finish line, which I reached in just under 5 hrs.

I know I didn't exactly break any records for a 35 year old female, but I am very happy with myself. Running for me has become more than a great way to burn off all those calories from my king size sweet tooth. It is a time to share with friends (mostly the friendship of my redhead runner whom isn't yet ready for a marathon, but I sure do love her company). It is also a time to clear my head, of worries, frustrations, stumbling blocks, and an awesome problem solving time.

I am already looking forward to trying another full marathon in the fall, this time I want to make it past the 20 mile mark before I break into a walk/run pattern. I am also doing a 1/2 marathon this May (with my redhead runner) and I want to finish that one under 2 hrs, and am kicking my own butt, each week on the treadmill with speed training to do my best to make that goal.

I would really like to try a triathlon, too, but I am waiting to see when my varicose vein surgery will be booked, it really has grown this last year, and its time for it to go, but it means 3 weeks off my running (but I can walk with no incline and swim so that will keep my shape up). Still till its booked I cannot know what dates will be good to try a Tri!

Forgot To Tell You One Major Thing!!

As you read the article below on our new home you will see that I said the home just needed flooring and painting and a furnace. However, when you look at the outside pictures, you are probably thinking!!! OH MY WORD who would rent that!!! Yeah we are getting new sage green siding in just a few weeks which will cover over all the boarded up gone long ago windows and the horrible chipping paint!!!

We bought another one!!!

We are now owners of not one, not two but three homes. After much prayer and crunching of numbers, we decided it best to hold off on the repairs on our prior residence, and purchase another home. Here is our reasoning.

1.Our prior residence, is technically rented to one of Jack's friends for our holding costs (he has the main floor) The agreement was he got cheep rent in exchange for having to put up with our dust, but he is covering our months to month costs on the home plus keeps it safe by occupying it.

2. The school district we live in is going through some really tough times, making decisions that many parents are not happy about. However, a neighboring school district is excellent, thus rentals in that district or hard to come by and high in price.

3. Housing prices right now are at all time lows with Bank Repo's being the norm for the area. If we spend our money fixing Spencer now, by the time we are ready to look for another home, chances are good we will be paying more for it.

With all that said. We started looking around Thanksgiving, but homes in the school district we wanted were being snatched up before they were even listed.

We truly thought we would just put down a sizable down payment on good solid home and do minimum repairs. Then we saw this home in the area we wanted, listed at $29,000. Its not much to look at, but the inside is in great shape, EXCEPT THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK THE FURNACE. Without a furnace the home is not considered eligible for a mortgage. So we put in a very low offer, which they refused, we then put in all the money we had minus what we would need for basic repairs (which was $15,000) and they took it!!!! WE GOT IT FOR 1/2 PRICE!!!.

Demolition is now complete, simple this time, just pulled up some carpet and old lino, then spent 2 full days stripping wall paper (which is a huge pain I may later share with you but now just makes me bitter).

Today we are expecting the furnace to arrive, then this weekend it will be installed, and then putting it back together happens, which requires painting all rooms neutral and putting in new flooring and one new window. We hope to have it all done by the end of March and rented by April 1st.

She did it!!!

Some of you might remember that around Christmas last year, Courtney had her heart set on saving up for an American girl doll. Well she did it and this fall we took her to the American girl doll shop in Chicago and after several trips around she decided on Chrissa. Funny girl, since the doll has been home I have seen her play with it maybe once.

Oh and I should mention, her next goal is to save up for an I-pod Touch like her daddy bought himself with his Christmas money. We told her we would pitch in $50, and she is already calculating how many chores and how much birthday money she will need to get it by summer.

That's my gal!!! Bargain Queen in the making!!!

My Favorite Yard sale find of the season

As I think all of you know I love a good bargain and you can find great ones at yard sales around here. This is an Amish drying rack, I was drooling over them when Jack and I went up to Amish country for 2 nights just the 2 of us when the children were at Church camp this summer. BUT the price tag on it was way out of my budget, so you can imagine what a thrill it was to find a like new one at a yard sale just 2 weeks later. It sat on my porch this summer drying mostly my sports gear and other dedicates, now its in the master bedroom for winter.

Oh and see the plant stand under the welcome sign, that's from a yard sale too, a few seasons ago, it held mum's this fall and now is in the basement till spring arrives.

Can't wait till spring, not only can I get my plant stand out again, and my drying rack out of the master bedroom, but once again I can yard sale, and that is an excellent thing.

Just a few Pictures of the Finished home

Stairway, with painted steps, love the way they turned out used deck paint. I got the mirror at a yard sale for $8 and have waited for over 2 years to see it hanging!!! LOVE IT.
Courtney's sleeping loft.This was one of our best ideas for the house it really gives her some serious play space.

Remember the ugly flower covered bath tub, well its got new life now, and it works great.

Our master bedroom with yardsale bedframe, bench and side tables (still got to paint those up) paired with clearance bedding, big lots with coupon lamps and curtains! LOVE IT and it feels increadible.

Yeah I know its been ages!!!

I noticed that the most popular phrase in all my Christmas cards this year was love reading your blog. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM................................ could that be a hint that you would wish for me to get my life organized enough to actually update it once and a while (lol).

Being it January and a time to set goals my new goal for this blog is to update it once in each Calender month in 2010.

I hope you will pop in from time to time to catch up on our lives, and enjoy the pictures of the our adorable children (cause I know that's your number 1 reason for viewing, but that's okay, I think there great too).